King’s Lynn vigil offers burner plea

New Year's Eve Candlelit Vigil Against the Incinerator at the Quaker Meeting House in King's Lynn. Michael DeWhalley writes his message for Eric Pickles

Dozens of campaigners against the incinerator ended the old year by delivering a personal plea to ministers to reject the Saddlebow scheme.

Visitors were asked to write personal messages of their opposition to the plant, which will now be sent to the Department for Communities and Local Government, which is expected to rule on whether the plant should be permitted or not within the next couple of weeks.

County councillor Alexandra Kemp, who organised the vigil, said she had been pleased by the public’s response to the event.

Many visitors wrote their own personal letters against the scheme, while others who could not attend also sent emails to be forwarded to the department.

Miss Kemp said she had been assured by planning minister Nick Boles that the views of local people would be taken into account in making the final decision.

She added: “It’s always worthwhile to stand up united as a community.”

North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham, who also attended the vigil, said: “I think it was an excellent idea and the more we can do to raise the case, the better.”